266 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
night-watches.' The expression is taken from the custom of the Jews, who divided the night into so many watches. Whilst others were repos- ing their bodies on their beds, David was reposing his soul in the bosom of God, and he gave the less rest to his eyes that he might give the more to his soul. So Ps. cxix. 148, ' Mine eyes prevent the night- watches, that I might meditate in thy word.' Certainly in the night, when we are taken off from other business, we have the greatest com- mand of our thoughts, and the covert of darkness that God hath stretched over the world begetteth a greater awe and reverence. Therefore Mr Greenham, when he pressed any weighty point, and perceived any care- less, used to beg of them that, if God by his providence should suffer them to awake in the night, they would but think of his words. Certainly the mind, being by sleep emptied of other cares, like a mill falleth upon itself, and the natural awe and terror which is the effect of darkness helpeth to make the thoughts more solemn and serious. So that you see much may be said for the conveniency of either of these seasons, evening, or morning, or night. It is your duty to be faithful to your own souls, and sometimes to take the advantage either of the night, or of the day, or of the morning, or of the evening, as best suits us. David saith, Ps. cxix. 97, ' Oh ! how love I thy law ! it is my meditation all the day.' So he describes his blessed man : Ps. i. 2, ' His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night ; ' that is, sometimes in the day, and sometimes in the night ; no time can come amiss to a prepared spirit. Isaac's hour was in the even-tide ; in the evening he went out to meditate, in which two things are notable —
[1.] That he made duty his refreshment. He had wrought all the day, and in the evening he goeth to recreate himself with God. What a shame is it that what was his solace is our burden ! If we had a spiritual discerning, we should soon see that there is no delight to that of duty, and no refreshment like that which we enjoy in the exercises of religion and in communion with God. The world's delights are vain and dreggy ; they may provoke laughter, but they cannot yield any pure, solid, and true contentment. It was Christ's meat to do his Father's will : John iv 34, ' My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.' It was sweeter to Job than his appointed food to hear God's word : Job xxiii. 12, ' I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.' And David saith, Ps. cxix. 54, ' Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.' All the comfort he had to drive away the sad and dis- consolate hours of his pilgrimage was to exercise himself in the study and meditation of God's word. And it was Isaac's evening comfort to go out and meditate. Gracious hearts must have spiritual delights, the word, and obedience, and prayer, and meditation. As one said, Alii hoc non est evangelium, aut nos non sumus chrtsiiani — Either these histories are not true, or our hearts are much unlike theirs. Oh ! how sweet would it be if we could make duty a recreation and our work our pleasure ; that in the close of the day this might be our solace, after the work of the day to take a turn with God in the mount, and to walk in the garden of love, and, as David saith, Ps. civ. 34, ' My meditation of him shall be sweet ; I will be glad in the Lord.' Isaac went out at even-tide.'
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[2.] That at the evening his spirit was still fresh and savoury ; this was the time not of necessity, but choice. Many spend their heat and strength in the world, toiling all day, and in the evening come and offer God a drowsy yawning prayer, when all the vigour of their spirits is wasted. You should bring forth the best wine at last ; never so engage in the world as to hinder a duty. It should be the wisdom of christians to guide their affairs with such judgment that duties may not become a burden and a weariness. Now a soul encumbered with business cannot act with such delight and freedom as it ought. Too often do we suffer the lean kine to devour the fat. Mary hath cause to comphiin of Martha ; so much time is spent in the world that we have no heart or strength for communion with God ; and usually when all are asleep and wearied out with the world, then we call to duty. Oh ! remember in the evening and close of the day your affections should be quick and free for spiritual things. Isaac went out ' at evening-tide.'
I shall sum up the intent of the whole verse in this one point —